Delta flight cuts in Orlando will be even deeper than expected

[crazy4wdw]

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Delta flight cuts in Orlando will be even deeper than expected
posted by Jason Garcia on Jun 18, 2008 3:24:10 PM

Delta Air Lines will cut even more flights across the country and, once again, the ax will fall particularly heavy in Orlando.

The airline said Wednesday that intends to cancel all nonstop flights between Orlando International Airport and at least seven more cities -- on top of a dozen route cancellations it had already revealed. The reductions are part of a new wave of nationwide cuts being forced by unprecedented fuel prices that are pushing much of the U.S. airline industry back toward bankruptcy.

Delta's newest cancellations include flights from Orlando to: Columbus, Ohio; Key West, Fla.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Louisville, Ky.; Panama City, Fla.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; and Richmond, Va.

Bob Cortelyou, Delta's senior vice president of network planning, said in an interview that record fuel prices are simply making flights to Orlando from secondary markets difficult to sustain. Those flights are typically operated on smaller, 50-seat regional jets, and they predominantly draw leisure travelers flying on the lowest available fares.

"High fuel prices and regional jets are like oil and water -- they don't necessarily mix," Cortelyou said. "You only have 50 seats to play with. If you can't get a good fare with 50 seats and if you don't get enough people to pay a high enough fare, you just can't make the plane work."